1892-93.] NOTKS ON THE WESTERN D^NES. 119' 



suffice to refer less informed readers to the plates or figures illustrating 

 Niblack's "The Coast Indians of Southern Alaska";* G. M. Dawson's 

 "Notes on the Haidajf" W. H. Dall's "Masks and Labrets,+" etc. 



Fig. 1 08 illustrates an implement which, for the lack of another term 

 we must call a rattle, though in shape, use and native name § it 

 widely differs from the above mentioned ceremonial rattle. It 

 is campanulate in form and is composed of a rounded piece of 

 wood, hollowed out in its larger or bottom end and split asunder 

 as far up as that part of it which serves as a handle. It was 

 used by the participants in that aboriginal ceremony, the thcf- 

 sdlrzvds, || which I have described in a former paper.** By slap- 

 ping against one another, its two halves produced a very sharp 

 rattling sound which could be heard at a great distance. 



This is perhaps the proper place to mention another piece of 



Dene carving, the gentile totem, toad, grouse, beaver, etc., which 



Fig. 108. on great festival occasions was exhibited as a means of attracting 



Ye size, offerings, apparently to the said totem image, which were in 



reality presents, voluntary or due, to the givers of the feast. Of course 



no specimens of these carvings now exist among the natives. 



The t'sak, the third borrowed sociological item mentioned above, was 

 a canoe or trough-shaped vessel, sometimes elaborately carved to the 

 arms of its possessor, I mean the totem animal of the notable to whom 

 it belonged, and wherein food was served to the invited guests. This 

 large vessel was brought into requisition on the occasion of extraordinary 

 festivals only. Identical specimens are shown in plate xxxviii. of 

 Niblack's book. 



Another kind of wooden utensil called t'sai or dish, which was often- 

 times inlaid with haliotis shells as an attempt at ornamentation, is also 

 known to have been possessed by a few Carrier families. But I greatly 

 suspect that the vessel, no less than its ornaments, had been bartered 

 from among the coast Indians during the fairs which were periodically 

 held on the borders of the Kitiksons' territory. 



This brings us to the consideration of the Western Denes' liousehold 

 utensils. 



*Rep. U.S. Museum, 1888. 



t Report on the Queen Charlotte Islands. Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Canada, 1878-79. 



+ Third Ann. Rep. Bureau Ethnol ; Washington, 1884. 



%}jaii9'ta', "from which there conies a slapping sound." 



II "One runs out." 



**The Western Denes, etc., Pro. Can. Inst. Vol. VII, 1888-89, p. 154. 



